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Bibi Paramjeet Kaur Gulshan and Sher Singh Ghubaya savouring their success. Tribune photos: Malkiat Singh/ Kulbir Beera

Double delight for Harsimrat
Bathinda, May 16
It was a heady mix of womanhood and motherhood for Harsimrat Kaur Badal today. While she won the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat with a big margin, the day was also special because it happened to be the birthday of her younger daughter, Gurleen.

Raninder thanks supporters
Bathinda, May 16
The Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and the party candidate from Bathinda parliamentary constituency, Raninder Singh, after losing the election today thanked the people for their overwhelming support.

Raninder Singh’s Bathinda house wore a deserted look after the poll results on Saturday evening. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh

It was SAD all the way
Bathinda, May 16
From the very first round of counting, it was SAD all the way in Bathinda where the ruling Badal family infused all its energy to make sure that party candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal wins.

Sukhbir may fight from Jalalabad
Ferozepur, May 16
After the success of Jalalabad MLA, Sher Singh Ghubaya in the Lok Sabha polls, the speculations are rife that the SAD chief and deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal may contest from Jalalabad Assembly seat, which will now be vacated following Ghubaya's elevation as MP.

Gulshan does it second time
Faridkot, May 16
Paramjit Kaur Gulshan of the Shiromani Akali Dal has won from the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat defeating her nearest rival Sukhwinder Singh Danny of the Congress by a margin of 62,042 votes. She polled 4,57,734 votes, while the Congress candidate got 3,95,692 votes.

Mansa begs to differ
Mansa, May 16
SAD candidate from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal recorded a lead of 42884 votes over her nearest rival Congress candidate Raninder Singh in the three Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Mansa district which belong to Bathinda parliamentary constituency.

Cong registers record win
Sriganganagar/Abohar, May 16
The Indian National Congress (INC) has wrested Sriganganagar seat from the BJP. Its candidate Bharat Ram Meghwal, who had lost to Nihal Chand Meghwal of the Saffron party only by 7000 votes in the elections held in 2004, has now defeated the arch rival by a record margin of 1 lakh 40 thousand 668 votes, perhaps the second largest margin in Rajasthan.

	Thumping win for Badal bahu in Bathinda Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, May 16 Putting all predictions of a close finish at rest, SAD (B) candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal today recorded a thumping win defeating her nearest rival of the Congress Raninder Singh by a margin of 1,20,948 votes. Harsimrat, wife of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal polled a total of 5,29,472 votes while Raninder Singh, son of former CM Captain Amarinder Singh got 4,08,524 votes. BSP candidate Nem Chand Chaudhary got 35,094 votes while CPI candidate Hardev Singh Arshi got 20,020 votes out of the total of 10,49,412 valid votes polled. It may be mentioned that a total of 22 candidates were in poll fray from this high-profile constituency. Surprisingly, except for Harsimrat and Raninder, no other candidate could manage to get even the minimum number of votes and had to forfeit their surety. Eighteen candidates failed to touch even the five-digit figure with many of them restricted to only 1000 to 2000 votes, in total. Though the Returning Officer Rahul Tewari did not provide formal details, figures received from reliable sources, revealed that around 1184 votes from three EVMs could not be retrieved and 99 votes were polled through postal ballots, out of which 52 were for Raninder and 40 for Harsimrat. From Lambi, the home turf of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, his daughter-in-law Harsimrat got the maximum lead of 34895, polling 66924 votes against the 32029 votes for Raninder. Except for Bathinda (Urban) and Mansa assembly segments where Harismrat got a setback lagging behind by 15289 and 1506 votes, respectively, she led in every round of counting in the remaining seven assembly segments. From Bhucho, the margin was recorded at 18654 votes, in Bathinda (Rural) the margin was of 10854 votes, in Talwandi Sabo 14249, in Maur 14106, in Sardulgarh 23188 and in Budhlada, the margin for Harsimrat was recorded at 21809 votes. A cheerful Harsimrat Kaur Badal, talking to TNS, said, "Captain Amarinder Singh used to call me Nanhi Chhaan, now I say to him that this Nanhi Chaan has uprooted his big tree." On being asked about the loss of majority number of seats in the state, Sukhbir said, "It was unfortunate, but we will deeply analyze the issue to find reason for such loss."
	Double delight for Harsimrat Rajay Deep Tribune News Service Bathinda, May 16 It was a heady mix of womanhood and motherhood for Harsimrat Kaur Badal today. While she won the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat with a big margin, the day was also special because it happened to be the birthday of her younger daughter, Gurleen. Talking to TNS, Harsimrat added that tomorrow, it is the birthday of her elder daughter Harkirat. "Milta hai tere dar se muqaddar se bhi jyada, halanki muqaddar bhi tere dar se mila hai…," were the words Harsimrat uttered to thank all when she came to receive the winning certificate from the Returning Officer Rahul Tewari. When asked, she said her business at Delhi has been suffering but now onwards she would devote her time to public welfare keeping everything else on the backburner. "Though people call me a greenhorn in politics, I have started understanding my political responsibilities," she said. Speaking about her kids, she said, "They are now on summer vacation and staying with us at Badal village. They are much happy now, as earlier they were fearing if I lost, they may have to face teasing in the school. "Day after tomorrow, I will launch a 'Dhanvadi Daura', gratitude tour of the constituency to thank all, who enabled me to win,” Harsimrat added. "I will now devote more time to the Nanhi Chaan campaign, a social movement," she concluded.
	Raninder thanks supporters Bathinda, May 16 The Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and the party candidate from Bathinda parliamentary constituency, Raninder Singh, after losing the election today thanked the people for their overwhelming support. In a statement, Raninder Singh observed, "Winning or not winning is a game of numbers, what is important is that you participated in the electoral process and reposed your trust in me". He said, irrespective of what the result was, he would continue to remain with the people of Bathinda as he has remained so far. Thanking his workers and supporters, Raninder Singh said, "Your support has given me added confidence and strength that come what may, I would be able to meet any challenge". He maintained that the enthusiasm and unity shown by the party workers was unparalleled and it was an honour to have worked with them. Congratulating the people of Bathinda, he pointed out that despite the situation created here, people came out to vote with courage and conviction. "I salute you all, those who voted for me and those who did not, because you contributed in strengthening democracy.” — TNS
	It was SAD all the way Rajay Deep/Anjali Singh Deswal Tribune News Service Bathinda, May 16 From the very first round of counting, it was SAD all the way in Bathinda where the ruling Badal family infused all its energy to make sure that party candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal wins. Supporters and party activists had started thronging the counting centres since early in the morning and though the security personnel did not let any 'unauthorized' person step inside, the slogans rent the air. Except for a few candidates, all opted to remain absent from the counting centres. Some Congress supporters marked their presence in the morning but after getting reports of the first two rounds of counting, they too left. Even some political leaders were observed contacting bookies to get information about the bets on the winnability of the candidates. The mood was festive at the counting centers, except for the bureaucrats who were observed to be tense in compiling the records. Harsimrat Kaur Badal and her husband, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, kept observing all developments till the afternoon and came out in public only when they were sure of winning this Lok Sabha seat. Sukhbir Badal opted to remain in his SUV, while Harsimrat had a round of the counting centres. Both of them were greeted with colours and slogans. Expressing thanks, cheerful Badal couple said, "It is a mandate which we have received for our development oriented approach and efforts." Vehicles were lined up from the Tinkoni, which is the heart of the city, till the two petrol pumps near the college. The road in front of the SSD Girls’ College was, however, blocked by police barricades. The security forces complained of being on election duty for the past two months without rest. Almost everyone was excited as the counting began, including the police personnel. After every counting round winded up, the police asked the media persons about who was winning and were seen happily exclaiming, 'Parjaai is leading'.
	Sukhbir may fight from Jalalabad Our Correspondent Ferozepur, May 16 After the success of Jalalabad MLA, Sher Singh Ghubaya in the Lok Sabha polls, the speculations are rife that the SAD chief and deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal may contest from Jalalabad Assembly seat, which will now be vacated following Ghubaya's elevation as MP. Jalalabad is being considered as one of the safest seat for Sukhbir, who will have to be member of the state legislative Assembly in order to continue as deputy chief minister of the state. Sher Singh had won this seat by a record margin of over 40,000 votes during the previous Assembly elections in 2007 defeating Hans Raj Jossan of the Congress. Even in the Lok Sabha polls, SAD got maximum lead of 20531 votes from Jalalabad only. When contacted, the Irrigation Minister, Janmeja Singh Sekhon who is the in-charge and district Jathedar, SAD, said that we would certainly like Sukhbir to contest from Jalalabad. Even BJP leader and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sukhpal Singh endorsed the view that Sukhbir should contest from Jalalabad as it would unleash a new era of growth and development for this border district, he added. Another Akali leader, Montu Vohra also seemed excited about the fact that Sukhbir might contest from Jalalabad. Vohra said that Sukhbir had indirectly expressed inclination to contest from this seat provided Ghubaya wins the parliament election.
	Gulshan does it second time Kulwinder Sandhu and Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Faridkot, May 16 Paramjit Kaur Gulshan of the Shiromani Akali Dal has won from the Faridkot Lok Sabha seat defeating her nearest rival Sukhwinder Singh Danny of the Congress by a margin of 62,042 votes. She polled 4,57,734 votes, while the Congress candidate got 3,95,692 votes. She has been elected to the LS for the second consecutive term. In the 2004 elections, she won from the Bathinda (Reserve) seat, but now she was shifted to the Faridkot constituency, as it was reserved for the Scheduled Castes after the delimitation process. Finance Minister of Punjab Manpreet Singh Badal, who was Gulshan’s election in charge, played a great role in scripting her victory.